96+ points Wine Advocate
The 2019 Vinha da Ponte, a field blend from very old vines (100+ years), was aged in new French oak for 20 months. It comes in at 14.6% alcohol. Always one of the most intense offerings from Crasto, this is true to form this year. It starts with somewhat darker and ripe fruit, then it adds layer after layer of pure power. The tannins are not impossibly astringent, but if any of Crasto's offerings in this report will be deemed astringent, it will be this one. It grips the palate and doesn't let go. It's never a boldly flavorful wine, tending more to stern and serious, but it is one that should develop brilliantly as it ages. A couple of hours of aeration really helped this out. It expanded in the glass, became a bit more approachable and more expressive. It was always tight, though, if not quite as tight. We now have to speculate as to how long this will age. So, let's start here and take it in stages. There were just 4,900 bottles produced, plus some large-format bottles.

Most of the upper-level reds are set for release in the spring or fall of 2023. The Reserva Old Vines and the Touriga monovarietals (Touriga Nacional and the Touriga Franca) will hit the market in the fall of 2022, though.

As I tasted through the reds here, mostly 2019s, I thought the defining characteristics were concentration and power. They show superb concentration and a serious backbone. It seems like one of the most powerful vintages for Crasto recently. The expression of fruit is also impressive, but these will need a little cellaring. This is a vintage that might be a little more popular with folks who can cellar them for at least a few years. Even with somewhat late releases, they might need a little more time beyond that late release date. They should become very popular in general.

Winemaker Manuel Lobo said of the 2019s: "Aft­er 2017 and 2018, yields [were] significantly below the decade average; 2019 proved to be much more generous and more in line with what we are used to at Quinta do Crasto." He said winter was dry, but the vines had the necessary soil water reserves. For the months of June, July and August, "the vines [were] well-balanced with healthy canopies, without great signs of water stress. We attributed this balance to the mild temperatures from May to late August—five degrees Celsius lower than the previous five-year average at Quinta do Crasto. This contributed positively to a slow and well-balanced ripening of the grapes during July and August. Exceptional levels of ripeness resulted. The 2019 harvest took place very calmly, with cold nights and hot and dry days that enabled picking at the ideal moment. The rain on 21 and 22 September was essential, as it helped to refine the ripening of later varieties, namely Touriga Franca. The 2019 harvest began with the first white grapes from Quinta do Crasto arriving to the winery on 26 August and finished on 11 October when the berries from the highest-altitude vineyards came in." He said 2019 gave "highly expressive white wines, with excellent concentration and extraordinary freshness. Our red wines also reflect the equilibrium enjoyed during the vegetative cycle. They are ... complete wines, with vibrant aromas, excellent concentration, solid structure, and above all, they are well-balanced with excellent aging potential. A very complete, balanced and unique vintage, that will provide wines to be remembered." - Mark Squires May 22